With a green top to play on, New Zealand won the toss and decided to field first in the first Test match at Wellington. New Zealand went into the match with three fast bowlers and one spinner to follow in the form of Mitchell Santner. The left-arm pacer Neil Wagner ripped through the West Indies batting line up with a career-best figure of 7 for 39 after a good opening stand to topple West Indies for 134 on the first day.
West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell put up a 59-run opening stand on a tough wicket, although, the Kiwi bowlers tried hard to get their name on the scoresheet. On the stroke of lunch, a short ball from Boult didn’t climb as steeply as Powell had expected as he dropped his hands to let it go, but the ball ricocheted low to third slip off the glove. The scales evened out after a dominating morning for West Indies. However, the morning session turned into New Zealand’s favour as Shimron Hetmyer got out off Wagner bouncer after hitting three boundaries.
The afternoon session had disaster written all over it for West Indies as they were clueless in front of Wagner. Hope got a feather that went to the hands of the keeper, and next ball, debutant Sunil Ambris became the first player in Test cricket to get a golden duck on debut via a hit wicket dismissal. Wagner was on a hat-trick, but Shane Dowrich saw it off. For the second time in the match, Wagner was on a hat-trick two overs later as Jeet Raval plucked out an excellent catch as the bouncer worked once again. This time, Roston Chase was at the receiving end. Jason Holder then was yorked by beauty as Windies struggled at 97 for 7. Wagner was relentless, Miguel Cummins and Shannon Gabriel resisted, but it wasn’t an easy stay against a pacer who had his game on. He last pair of Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach added a defiant 29-run stand before as they were bowled out for 134.
New Zealand is close to taking a firm grip on the first test against the West Indies after the opening day at the Basin Reserve today. At stumps, New Zealand were 85 for two still trailing by 49 with Jeet Raval on a patient 29 and Ross Taylor on 12. The West Indies had removed opener Tom Latham and captain Kane Williamson to at least keep themselves afloat. Latham played a poor shot, trying to pull the impressive Jason Holder and being caught at mid-wicket for 37. Williamson, on one, tried to cut a ball too close to him, and which seamed back, and was caught at gully off Kemar Roach.
West Indies will look to pick some quick wickets in the morning session of Day 2 to come back on the game, whereas the Kiwis will look to bank on the good start they have got.
Brief Score: West Indies 134/10 (Kieran Powell 42) Neil Wagner 7/39
New Zealand 85/2 ( Jeet Raval 29*, Ross Taylor 12*), Shannon Gabriel 2/22 trailing by 49 runs.